A summary of the circulation permit procedure under Circular 12/2025/TT‑BXD as amended by Circular 19/2026/TT‑BXD (effective 1 July 2026): when a permit is needed, who issues it, which documents to file, how long it takes, how long a permit lasts and when a road survey is required.
Circulation permit checklist 2026Free PDF, download at the end
When is a permit required?
Oversize vehicles, overweight vehicles, tracked vehicles and vehicles carrying oversized or overweight (heavy-haul) cargo need a circulation permit to use public roads (Article 22). Cargo is oversized or overweight when, once loaded, the vehicle is longer than 20 m, wider than 2.5 m, higher than 4.2 m (4.35 m for container carriers) or the gross mass of vehicle and cargo exceeds 48 tonnes (Article 10).
For oversized or overweight cargo, the application must explain, after research and surveys, why rail, inland waterway, air or sea transport is unsuitable, or why road must be combined with another mode (Article 22.1(đ)).
Who issues the permit?
A provincial Department of Construction issues permits valid nationwide when either condition applies (Article 24):
- The applicant's business or operating registration address is in that province.
- The origin or destination (or both) of the vehicle or cargo is in that province.
Which documents are needed?
For Vietnamese-registered vehicles (Article 23.1):
- Application form using the templates in Appendix I or Appendix II of the Circular.
- A request letter from the competent authority (only for defence, security, disaster or emergency cases where that authority does not sign the application itself).
- Road survey report using the Appendix XV template (when a survey is required, see below).
- Report on completed strengthening of road structures (when strengthening is required).
For foreign-registered vehicles (Article 23.2), in addition to the application, survey report and strengthening report (if any): a power of attorney from the foreign cargo or vehicle owner to the Vietnamese party handling the procedure (if they do not apply directly), and copies of the vehicle registration and technical inspection certificate. Documents not in Vietnamese must be translated and certified.
Where to apply and how long it takes
- File one set of documents via the National Public Service Portal, by post, or in person at a public administrative service centre.
- In person: documents are checked the same working day. Online or by post: checked within 1 working day. Missing items are notified for completion.
- Within 2 working days of receiving a complete file, the authority reviews it and issues the permit; a refusal must be given in writing with reasons.
- Permits are issued electronically; a paper copy is provided on request.
How long is a permit valid?
A permit covers a specific route or section, one way or both ways, per trip or per batch of trips by vehicles with equivalent parameters on the same route (Article 22.2). Validity (Article 22.4):
| Case | Maximum validity |
|---|---|
| No mandatory conditions, route fully upgraded | 90 days from issue |
| No mandatory conditions, route not fully upgraded | 30 days |
| Mandatory conditions apply (designated lane, escort and support, warnings, or road strengthening) | 30 days |
| Self-propelled tracked vehicles | Per trip, up to 30 days |
From 1 July 2026, the validity must also fall within the vehicle's inspection certificate validity and may not exceed the usable period of the road survey report (Article 22.4(d), amended by Circular 19/2026).
When is a road survey required?
Under Appendix XVI (replaced by Circular 19/2026), a road survey is required when the vehicle or combination (including cargo) exceeds axle or axle-group loads (Article 14), the permitted gross mass (Article 15) or 34 tonnes for tracked vehicles, or exceeds the height or width below for the road class. Passing a published load or clearance restriction (including bridges) beyond the published value also requires a survey.
| Road class | Height above | Width above |
|---|---|---|
| Expressway | 4.75 m | 3.0 m |
| Expressway (phased investment) | 4.75 m | 2.8 m |
| Class I road | 4.5 m | 3.0 m |
| Class II road | 4.5 m | 3.0 m |
| Class III road (lowland) | 4.5 m | 3.0 m |
| Class III road (mountain) | 4.5 m | 2.8 m |
| Class IV road (lowland) | 4.35 m | 2.8 m |
| All other roads | 4.35 m | 2.5 m |
Survey and strengthening reports can be reused for 6 months for vehicles with equivalent or smaller parameters on the same route; 9 months on expressways and class I, II or lowland class III roads for vehicles up to 3.3 m wide (Article 23.5 and 23.6).
When a permit is refused
- The cargo exceeds the vehicle's design payload stated in its inspection certificate.
- A trailer or semi-trailer exceeds the towing mass allowed by the tractor's design (Article 22.3).
Obligations during transport
- Choose a suitable route, vehicle (including special support equipment) and loading method to keep road traffic and road structures safe.
- Hold a circulation permit and comply with its conditions.
- Carry only one indivisible overweight unit per trip (Article 12.2).
Key changes under Circular 19/2026
- New grounds to revoke a permit: issued incorrectly or to the wrong party, breach of permit conditions, unrepaired damage to road structures, or infrastructure changes that make the permit unsuitable. A revocation decision is issued within 3 working days.
- From 1 January 2027, permits carry a QR code for verification.
- Permits issued before 1 July 2026 remain valid to expiry; applications filed before that date follow the rules in force when filed.
How GLOGIMEX can help
GLOGIMEX handles route surveys, transport and lifting plans and circulation permit applications for project heavy-haul cargo in Vietnam. Send the unit dimensions, weight and route to receive a transport plan.
